Principal Occupational Therapist

Bristol City Council; West of England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol City Council is seeking a Principal Occupational Therapist to provide professional leadership and strategic oversight of Occupational Therapy across Adult Social Care and Children's Services.

You will be part of the leadership team, guiding service development, workforce planning and the operating model in line with Bristol's vision for adult social care and children's services.

Qualifications

• Qualified Occupational Therapist with DipCOT or BSc or equivalent.
• Current registration with the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council).
• Experience of OT practice within a social care setting, including leadership/ supervision responsibilities.
• Experience leading or contributing to projects, service improvement initiatives or organisational change.
• Ability to manage resources effectively and contribute to budget planning and oversight.
• Strong communication, partnership-working and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership and strategic oversight for Occupational Therapy services and carers' practice across Adult Social Care and Children's Services.
• Support the wider leadership team in delivering service priorities and organisational objectives.
• Promote and maintain high standards of Occupational Therapy practice across adult and children's services.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and support to Occupational Therapists, social care practitioners and partner organisations.
• Contribute to service development and workforce planning, helping to build an inclusive, skilled and culturally responsive workforce.
• Champion strengths-based, person-centred approaches that promote independence, wellbeing and positive outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Partnership working

Decision making

Project management

Budget management

Education

DipCOT / BSc / equivalent

Job description

Job description

Are you an Occupational Therapist looking for an opportunity to develop your leadership career and make a positive impact across services? If you value collaboration, professional growth, and high-quality practice, we would welcome your application.

We are seeking a Principal Occupational Therapist to provide professional leadership and oversight of Occupational Therapy practice across Adult Social Care and Children's Services. This is a key role, offering the opportunity to influence service development, contribute to strategic priorities, and support the continued growth and development of Occupational Therapy services across the organisation.

About the Role

As Principal Occupational Therapist, you will be a key member of our leadership team, contributing to the delivery of our transformation programme and supporting the implementation of our operating model in line with Bristol's vision for Adult Social Care and Children's Services.

You will:

• Provide professional leadership and strategic oversight for Occupational Therapy services and carers' practice.
• Support the wider leadership team in delivering service priorities and organisational objectives.
• Promote and maintain high standards of Occupational Therapy practice across adult and children's services.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and support to Occupational Therapists, social care practitioners and partner organisations.
• Contribute to service development and workforce planning, helping to build an inclusive, skilled and culturally responsive workforce.
• Champion strengths-based, person-centred approaches that promote independence, wellbeing and positive outcomes.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who can provide professional leadership, build positive working relationships and support continuous improvement across services. To be considered, you will need:

• A recognised Occupational Therapy qualification (DipCOT, BSc or equivalent).
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Experience of Occupational Therapy practice within a social care setting, including leadership, management and/or supervisory responsibilities.
• Experience of leading or contributing to projects, service improvement initiatives or organisational change.
• The ability to manage resources effectively and contribute to budget planning and oversight.
• Strong communication, partnership-working and decision-making skills.

What We Offer

• A supportive, inclusive and collaborative working environment.
• Opportunities for learning, professional development and career progression.
• Flexible working arrangements and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people and communities across Bristol.
• Access to a wide range of employee benefits, networks and training opportunities.

Closing date: 20 th September 2026.

We will be looking to interview the week commencing the 16th October 2026.

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you'll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.